Fracking, the extraction of natural gas by forcing toxic chemicals into the ground causing explosions, has been linked to serious human health illnesses, destruction of ground water, toxicity in farm animals, and contamination of the air with heavy metals and carcinogens. It should be banned in the United States, as it has been in other countries, until it can be scientifically proven safe. Until then, the Gas Companies should return to their previous, safer methods of gas extraction.
Why is this important?
Horror stories of serious illness, contamination of air and water, presence of toxic chemicals in animals which may make it into the food we eat, corruption of agencies which are not releasing adequate water sample information to affected citizens are coming out of Pennsylvania and North Dakota where large scale fracking is underway. President Obama is encouraging this and wants to begin exporting natural gas. France, Ireland and the state of New York currently have bans on fracking. Fracking should be banned in this country until the health impacts have been thoroughtly studied and documented.
References: Truth-out.org/news/item/13058-why-are-cows-tails-dropping-off ]
Pittsburgh :Post-Gazette, November 2, 2012, http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/lawmaker-challenges-pa-deps-reporting-of-gas-well-water-safety-660238/#ixzz2BGVjiqwT
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